Car-coupling



(No Model.)

B. J. DOWNING.

GAR. COUPLING. No 535,240. Patented Mar. 5 1895 779132 @556 a 9mm 2220 2";

Nrrnn STATES ATENT Orrrcn.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,240, dated March 5, 1895. Application filed December 14, 1894. Serial No. 531 ,815. (No model..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTON J DOWNING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Antelope Springs, in the county of Mineral and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Oar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side elevation of the invention applied.

Fig. 2 is a section on line cw, Fig. 3, showing the link of opposing drawhead in engagement. Fig. 3 is a front view of invention applied.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in car couplings, the object being to provide a simple, strong and efficient coupling automatic in its action, the coupling being effected by impact, and capable of being uncoupled from the top or side of the car; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letterA designates the draw-head of the coupling, having therein a link receiving chamber B intersected by the pin-aperture a. In the bottom of said draw-head is an elongated groove or recess 1), extending nearly the full length of the draw-head, and to the front end thereof, in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of said head. Pivoted in the rear end portion of said groove, on a pin 0, is a swinginglink 0, adapted to be swung upward into horizontal or coupling position, by means of the angular arm 01, of the rock-rod or lever D., upon a depression (1' of which arm said link rests when in its down or uncoupled position. The rod or lever D is bent loosely around a projecting end of the pin 0, and thence extends laterally to the side of the car having a loop-bearing at c, and terminating in a crank arm El Loosely connected to said crank arm is a vertical rod F, which extends to the top of the car through suitable guides,

and provides means for the elevation of the link from the top of the car.

Seated in a cavity or chamber of the draw bar, and arranged to be partially projected into the chamber B of the head, by a spring F, is aslida'ble bar G. Said bar, when at the limit of the forward projection forms a support for the coupling pin H, when the latter is in its raised, or uncoupled position.

Attached to the head of the pin H, is a vertically slidable bar I, whose upper end portion is bent at substantially right angles to make the connection with the pin, and whose lower portion is similarly bent, but in the opposite direction, as indicated at h, this arm it being arranged to be engaged by the arm d, before described, when the said arm is raised, thereby raising the bar I and the pin II.

The guide for the bar I consists of a groove formed in the lateral face of the draw-head, said groove being open except for the guide flanges at the edges. By this arrangement the bar and pin can be easily detached in case either becomes broken, and the bars may be bent at the shops, and carried as train supplies for application when needed.

The coupling is effected in the following manner:The swinging link on one of the cars is raised to coupling position by the means described, that of the other car remaining idle. As the cars come together, the link enters the chamber B of the opposing draw-head, and striking the bar G, forces the latter back, and the pin falls through the link.

To uncouple, the rock-rod or lever D is op erated, raising the arm at into contact with the arm h of the'bar I, raising said bar and thereby the pin. The bar G then comes forward and catches the pin in its raised position.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. In a car coupling, the combination With the draw-head,of a slidable spring-actuated, pin-supporting bar, arranged to project into the link-receiving chamber of said head, a vertically swinging link pivoted to the under side of said head, a rock-rod or lever having an angular armupon which said link rests when in uncoupled position, a coupling pin, and a bar slidable in a vertical guide on the draw-head, said bar being connected with said pin and arranged to be engaged by said angular arm of the rock-rod or lever, subsl antially as specified.

2. In a car coupling, the combination with a draw-head, having a groove in its lower face, of a vertically swinging coupling link pivoted in the rear portion of said groove, a slidable, spring-actuated pin support, a coupling pin, a pin-raising bar slidable in a way or groove on the lateral face of the draw-head, and having a bent upper portion connected to the coupling pin, and an oppositely bent arm at its lower portion, a rock-rod orlever having an angular arm designed to form a support for the swinging link and to engage the lower arm of the pin-raising bar, and means whereby said rod or lever may be operated either from the top or side of the car, substantially as specified.

3. In a car coupling, a draw-head A having therein a link-receiving chamber B, an intersecting pin aperture a, and in its bottom a groove or recess 1) extending nearly the full length of the draw-head and to the front end thereof, a link 0 pivoted in the rear portion of the groove, the rock-rod or lever D having an angular arm 61 adapted to swing said link into coupling position, said rod or lever being bent loosely around a projecting end of the pivot pin of said link, and thence extended laterally to form an operating arm, the slidable bar F seated in a cavity or chamber of the draw-bar and the spring F, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURTON J. DOXVNING. \Vitnesses:

HENRY C. OAssinY, WILL. H. SPURGEON. 

